'Wake up' - Ex-Tottenham scout tears into Mauricio Pochettino as World Cup 'shows what he's really about'
Mauricio Pochettino should not return as Tottenham Hotspur manager in the future after revealing his true colours at this summer's World Cup.
That is the opinion of former senior Tottenham scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The United States manager supported FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's red card to make him available for the last 16 clash against Belgium, in a move that was clearly influenced by Donald Trump.
The co-host nation ultimately lost the game 4-1 but the decision has called into question the integrity of the World Cup and Gianni Infantino, especially after Jarell Quansah's red card was extended to a two-game ban.
Pochettino spent five years at Tottenham and was among the favourites to return as manager to replace Thomas Frank, before Roberto De Zerbi was appointed.
The former Chelsea manager has been offered a new deal to stay on as United States manager, but his decision is not yet clear.
Bryan King slams Mauricio Pochettino
Under Pochettino, Tottenham went from challenging to qualify for the Champions League to challenging for the Champions League.
The Lilywhites were runners up in 2019 under the Argentine, and went close to winning the Premier League in 2016 and 2017.
They never quite managed to get over the line, but Pochettino's leadership gave them a chance they had not had in many, many years.
For that reason, he remains a revered figure in North London and there has always been clamour to bring him back.
For King, that attitude has changed. "'The greatest coach in the world' he was at Tottenham. He never won anything. He got to the final, never won anything," he told Football Insider.
"If he had a belief with this new generation, this wonderful generation of USA players, that he was going to get anywhere near to winning the World Cup then he wants to wake up.
"He wants to wake up and so do the people who are employing him. Because, I'm sorry, for me, he's always been a nearly man. And he's got this reputation of 'he's got to come back to Tottenham, got to come back to Tottenham.
"'He was the man who brought us real football.' But he never won anything! What's going on in America, for me, he shows what he's about.
"Money, money, money, because he proved that he endorsed what Trump set out to do. And I am so glad [they were knocked out]."
What has Pochettino said about the future?
If he is waiting for the Tottenham job, it appears that Pochettino will have to bide his time.
The Lilywhites have spent a significant amount of money appointing De Zerbi and backing him this summer, and will want to give him as much time as possible to get the team back on track.
"I think now it’s about resting a little bit,” Pochettino said after his team were knocked out. "To think, to have conversation and then to see what the decision is from the federation and from us.
"But I am so happy, we have built a very good relationship, but now is not a moment to talk about that. I think now is a moment to sit, to assess the tournament and for sure in the next weeks, we can start to talk – if the federation wants to talk.”